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WORLD CUP PREVIEW 2013: TEN QUESTIONS FOR THE TOP TEN – PART 2

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Continuing on from part 1 of the World Cup preview, questions 3 and 4.

Gee Atherton will be aboard a new bike for 2013. Photo: Victor Lucas

3: Have you made any significant changes to your training, coaching or equipment setup for the 2013 season?

Aaron Gwin: Yup, lot’s of changes for 2013!

Greg Minnaar: Not really, I start my 11th season being trained by Stephane Girrard. Last year we were on pre production bikes, now that we’re on production bikes our V10’s weighed in quite a bit lighter, so it’s almost a new bike

Gee Atherton: I’ve started working with a new coach so our training has been mixed up slightly, keep things fresh.

Steve Smith: I wouldn’t say I’ve made any major changes. There is a lot to fine tune and I’m continuing my training with the same trainer. He works hard to push our progression in all angles, trying to sharpen every tool in the shed.

Sam Hill: I’m on a whole new bike this season. I’m riding the Nukeproof Pulse which is amazing. I feel really comfortable on this bike and I think that’s important. I’ve been training with my same coach TD lifestyle and have been putting in the work for sure so I’m ready to go.

Josh Bryceland: We had a really productive test session with fox in march but my bike is really similar to last season. My training has been great this winter, made some big steps in terms of strength.

Brook Macdonald: No real big changes with my training just the same as last year and chipping away at some new things. New bikes would be the biggest change for me but I’ve adapted quick to that and all the gear we are on I have ridden before.

Danny Hart: This off season I made some drastic changes, I went with a new coach, Andy Wadsworth, In Bristol, we have been working very hard, I have a WattBike, so I have been recording a lot of data at home and all of my stats have improved. Everything else has more or less stayed the same… I have great people in more corner, I didn’t want to change anything really.

Mick Hannah: Yes

George Brannigan: Yea I have a new trainer this year ‘Todd Schumlick’ and I’m real stoked with the program I’m on. It is quite a bit more than my previous training but I have the time to do it all.

Emmeline Ragot is on a whole new team and bike this year. Photo: Victor Lucas

Rachel Atherton: Yes quite a few, started working with Alan Millway a respected S+C coach really closely, he comes to the house during the week and we smash it hard, its been good, changing my muscles i hope… This was the first year we didn’t go abroad for any length of time to train, usually Cali or NZ for 6 weeks so we will see if that was a good decision soon!! And i didn’t have surgery at the end of the season last year so i pretty much had time to ride and enjoy my bike all winter, yay!!

Emmeline Ragot: I have couple big changes for 2013. First I changed team to Lapierre Gravity Republic, so naturally I’m riding the new Lapierre – dh Team bike. The other big change for me is my suspension, I will be on the SRAM / RockShox Black Box program for 2013 which I’m very happy about.

Myriam Nicole: I have change a few thing with my new trainer, also the team is now sponsored by Bos suspension which is awesome, we have been doing lots of test and the bike is working really good.

Tracey Hannah: I haven’t done anything the same leading up to the 2013 season, coming from my injury in August I have had to go through the recovery process and then turn it into training. We changed bikes this year and I’m loving it, I can’t wait to take the Polygon to the world cup stage.

Emilie Siegenthaler: I didn’t make any big chances to my training; my Dad is still making my training plans as he does for his own athletes (Nino Schurter, René Wildhaber). I finish my Master degree this summer so I m very busy with it all but I try to do my best. I’m looking forward to be finished with the Uni stuff, so that I can finally focus on racing! The bike is quite the same as last year, few changes and optimisation, but I won’t say too much…

Can Steve Smith Capitalise on his win in the final round last year? Photo: Victor Lucas

4: When did you last scare yourself on a mountain bike?

Aaron Gwin: A few days ago when I ran over a snake on an xc ride, I hate snakes.

Greg Minnaar: Testing in Spain…. Messing around on some jumps, tried to Super seat grab, but missed the bars and face planted

Gee Atherton: RedBull Rampage

Steve Smith: I try to scare my self every time i ride haha

Sam Hill: I’m not sure. I don’t really think I get scared riding a bike anymore.

Josh Bryceland: I scare myself most days on and off the mountain bike. Today was when I tried to scrub a jump but just carved right and got all out of shape, Hit a tree with my forearm and lost some skin but rode it out!! woooo

Brook Macdonald: Start of the year filming with the C3 boys when I got ejected at about 50ks but only scared me for a minute or two then I was good haha

Danny Hart: Fort William national.

Mick Hannah: I was trying to show off in practice at the Sea Otter and whipped myself right over the bars ha ha. That scared me, but I got away without hurting myself.

George Brannigan: Today haha, I went riding in the mud for the first time since knee surgery and had a wee slip up onto to my left leg but it was fine.

Why is Pom Pom Called Pom Pom? Photo: Victor Lucas

Rachel Atherton: Before sea otter classic Gee, Marc and I rode our distortions in the USC forest on some big downhill jumps, that was scary the first time hitting them on my little short travel!

Emmeline Ragot: Hum… I think the last time for me was in Windham USA last year when I got blown by the wind on the final jump! I think everyone remembers that crash.

Myriam Nicole: 9 Months ago, on a jump in Whistler. I landed on the back wheel and broke my collarbone, pretty scary when you ride at 50km/h

Tracey Hannah: Well, last time I rode my bike I crashed and broke my collarbone, so I guess you could say it was 4 weeks ago. I’m feeling really good finally since I broke my leg, the current injury is more just an inconvenience and I really can’t wait for the first race.

Emilie Siegenthaler: I had a little race last week end, it was a huge mudfest and there I had some few scary moments…

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